500 signatures reached
To: Kapa'a Elementary School and Hawaii Department of Education
Honoring 33 Years of Service: Support Kumu U'ilani
Please Support Kumu U'ilani Gutierrez
For 33 years, Kumu U'ilani Gutierrez has faithfully served the keiki and families of Kapa'a Elementary School as a Hawaiian Studies teacher. She has shared Hawaiian language, culture, values, and aloha with generations of students, helping them develop pride in who they are and where they come from.
Today, after more than three decades of dedicated service, Kumu U'ilani has been placed in a position where she must return to college for approximately three years in order to continue her role. Completing those requirements would require a significant commitment at this stage of her career, as she approaches retirement.
Many of us find it difficult to understand why an educator who has successfully taught and inspired generations of keiki for over three decades is not being recognized for the experience, cultural knowledge, and dedication she already possesses. Kumu U'ilani has served under multiple principals throughout her career and has never felt as discouraged or disrespected as she does today.
This petition is a call for educational leaders to carefully review a decision that impacts a respected educator who has dedicated 33 years of service to the children and families of Kapa'a. We believe there is a way to honor both educational standards and the invaluable cultural knowledge, 'ike, experience, and service that Kumu U'ilani brings to our community.
As a community, we often speak about Hawaiian values such as Aloha, Malama, Kuleana, and Lokahi. There values teach us to care for one another, honor our kupuna, respect those who serve, and work together for the good of our keiki. We respectfully ask Kapa'a Elementary School leadership and the Hawaii Department of Education to review this decision and consider alternative pathways that recognize Kumu U'ilani's decades of successful teaching, cultural expertise, and service to our community.
If Kumu U'ilani taught you, your child, your grandchild, or has touched your life in any way, we ask for your support. Please sign this petition and share your memories of how she has impacted our community.
Mahalo nui loa for your time, support, and aloha. May God bless our keiki, our schools, and our community.
For 33 years, Kumu U'ilani Gutierrez has faithfully served the keiki and families of Kapa'a Elementary School as a Hawaiian Studies teacher. She has shared Hawaiian language, culture, values, and aloha with generations of students, helping them develop pride in who they are and where they come from.
Today, after more than three decades of dedicated service, Kumu U'ilani has been placed in a position where she must return to college for approximately three years in order to continue her role. Completing those requirements would require a significant commitment at this stage of her career, as she approaches retirement.
Many of us find it difficult to understand why an educator who has successfully taught and inspired generations of keiki for over three decades is not being recognized for the experience, cultural knowledge, and dedication she already possesses. Kumu U'ilani has served under multiple principals throughout her career and has never felt as discouraged or disrespected as she does today.
This petition is a call for educational leaders to carefully review a decision that impacts a respected educator who has dedicated 33 years of service to the children and families of Kapa'a. We believe there is a way to honor both educational standards and the invaluable cultural knowledge, 'ike, experience, and service that Kumu U'ilani brings to our community.
As a community, we often speak about Hawaiian values such as Aloha, Malama, Kuleana, and Lokahi. There values teach us to care for one another, honor our kupuna, respect those who serve, and work together for the good of our keiki. We respectfully ask Kapa'a Elementary School leadership and the Hawaii Department of Education to review this decision and consider alternative pathways that recognize Kumu U'ilani's decades of successful teaching, cultural expertise, and service to our community.
If Kumu U'ilani taught you, your child, your grandchild, or has touched your life in any way, we ask for your support. Please sign this petition and share your memories of how she has impacted our community.
Mahalo nui loa for your time, support, and aloha. May God bless our keiki, our schools, and our community.
Why is this important?
This petition is important because it seeks to recognize and honor the lifelong dedication, cultural knowledge, and service that Kumu U'ilani Gutierrez has provided to the students, families, and community of Kapa'a for more than 33 years. Throughout her career, she has done far more than teach Hawaiian Studies, she has helped generations of keiki connect with their culture, language, values, and identity.
Kumu U'ilani's experience and expertise cannot simply be measured by college coursework alone. Her decades of successful teaching, deep understanding of Hawaiian culture, and lasting impact on countless students demonstrate the invaluable role she plays within our school and community. Many families have trusted her to help guide their children, instilling pride, respect, and aloha that extends far beyond the classroom.
As Kumu U'ilani approaches retirement, requiring her to complete approximately three more years of college courses raises important questions about how we value experienced educators and cultural practitioners. This petition is not about lowering educational standards; it is about asking leaders to consider fair and reasonable alternatives that recognize the unique contributions, knowledge, and proven success of a teacher who has faithfully served her community for over three decades.
By supporting this petition, we are standing up for the values of aloha, mālama, kuleana, and lōkahi. We are asking educational leaders to honor a respected educator, preserve cultural knowledge within our schools, and ensure that experience, dedication, and service are given the recognition they deserve. Most importantly, we are advocating for the keiki who continue to benefit from Kumu U'ilani's wisdom, guidance, and unwavering commitment to Hawaiian education.